Guardiola on Haaland, being 'cold' to 2023 glory and 'best in Italy' Inter
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League opener at home to Inter Milan (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Looking back on City's 2023 Champions League final win over Inter, Guardiola said: "It was nice, a tight game. The first half was much, much better than the second half. After the goal, we had one clear chance from Phil [Foden], they had two clear, clear chances. The coin was on our side - it could have gone the other side."
On the challenge posed by Inter and how they have developed since that final: "It was a good team in that moment, it's a really good team now. A good manager - Simone [Inzaghi] knows how to make good moments. In the last years, they have been the best in Italy."
However, Guardiola is not relying on that win for reassurance: "About inspiration, about emotion, I'm so cold on that. It's the first game in a group stage of eight games. Tactically, we have to be present in what we have to do."
He was not drawn into chat over the competition's new format: "Win our first game, and the second one, and see what happens in the last games to take a look. It's like in the Premier League - it's not necessary to look at the table right now. It will be in the future."
Guardiola said Erling Haaland is in better condition this season: "The difference is that after niggles and tiredness in his body, this season he feels better. So far he feels clean, good here [in his head]. But, I don't know what will happen in two or three months' time."
More on Haaland's fine form: "I don't expect every game he will score two, three. The moment that doesn't happen, it's not a problem because I know the quality is there. As a football player, I scored 11 goals. This guy, in four games, scored nine."
On Kevin de Bruyne: "His mood is good and he's playing at a good level. It's the same with Erling. There are a lot of games. Of course, they have started really well, come back good, helped us in the Premier League games. But we will see."
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